#earthrunes

------------

Emmaline finds the garden of Earth Runes a truly magical place

The manor courtyards at EarthRunes host a number of gardens. Where under the Eilunid Baron seemed more tailored towards quiet contemplation or reading, under the new Baroness fold may find verdant getaways that seem particularly well suited to private trysts with downy grass clearings and enshrouding willow fronds.

Off of the kitchen are vegetable and herb gardens present to help support any manor, with sections dedicated (and carefully marked) for healing and alchemically inclined plants. It is rumored that further in there is a patch of very ‘special’ herbs, but it would take a pair of goats’ legs to make it down the trail to find them, if one were to even know the way.

The children of the hold delight in playing in the tamer vistas, though it bears warning that in any freehold garden, chimera are like to roam (or bloom). Childlings should be well warned not to pull the tails on a dandy-lion or tiger-lily, or else risk a thorny nip. And that’s to say nothing of what one might find in the snap-dragons…

But they do need tending, or they might get too wild. (The flowers that is- the children are someone else's problem)

A certain amount of wild is important - in green and growing things and children both.

It would appear that the details are being left up to her. The steward or one of those servants reporting her might peek in, but mostly leave her be as long as she has all the tools she needs. Offers from a local nocker to 'improve' the tools are being reviewed

She is not a boggan. It is not so much that she's lazy - but a pooka's approach might not sit well with those of the more bustling kith. For example, right now, she is up in a tree. From her vantage point, she is either surveying her domain or day-dreaming.

One male boggan comes out, eyes her, frowns, and departs. She thinks he was using a broom earlier. But no one else gives her grief.

"Why yes, you are a most handsome oak. Providing shade and sustenance to all below your boughs... I think that squirrel is most grateful, even if he scolds..."

The Oak's leaves seem to shine a bit more in the sunlight at this.

Meanwhile, Oswald and a new Thane are carting in mulch /"So you're not a DeBuke?" Oswald says skeptically// "No, it's Deburn, and you're like the fourth person to ask that. What, are folks worried one troll family are taking over?" Deburn asks//"Sometimes it feels like they're the only ones who get speaking parts" //"What?" //"Nevermind, forget I said anything."

Enri bounces up, two envelopes in his hand ,and presents them to both.

"What the heck? is.." Oswald starts to ask but...the boy is gone.

She peers down, ears alert.

They each open their letters, Deburn reads his outloud enough for her to hear parts..."guilty of bachelorhood?" //Oswald says "Mine says that too... auctions now? " A sigh "I wonder if Rivervale is hiring."

"My oldest friend, you are a bachelor?" She hangs from the limb by her knees, upside down - tail wrapped for extra support. "I suspect you would be a bachelor at Rivenwood..."

"Well, there was this party.." A blush\

"Do you have a secret ladyfriend? Wonderful! Congratulations! I am so sorry to hear that!"

"No no I ...see, I don't.. I had a hook up?" He blushes "It's a fiona hold, and there were masks" Oswald explains/Deburn is backing away slowly, "Dude, she's pooking you"

She claps. "Sounds like a party! And now you have lost her? How romantic, an epic... you want to find her once more?"

"No I...she's not pooking me, I'm a trained guard" Thane Oswald says to the new guy "Geez, rookie, chill. " Ahems then he continues "I'm too busy for a regular dating life. Duty first...though I admit, at a fiona hold.. maybe it's expected?"//"They issue a pole arm and a girlfriend?" Deburn asks.//"No no..I just mean we kind of have to go."//"We do?"//"I THINK We do." Oswald says. //THe two trolls seem baffled by this situation.

"Ohhhh, don't you know? It's a fiona rule! Every vassal must have at least one romantic entanglement. You might get a yule bonus if you have a particularly exciting triangle."

Oswald says to Deburn "I know she's a pooka but it might be true..." //"Change the subject before my head explodes from this logic" Deburn suggests "or lack there of" //"Hey, be nice, she's new too." Oswald looks up the tree, "Ah, where do you want the mulch?"

She drops down, landing in a tumble to roll to her feet. "Well, want is an interesting word... but I suppose I might be happy if it were placed around the roses. And maybe under the roses. Or rose-adjacent..."

They move it to the roses well, they move the mulch near the roses.

A delighted clap. "Tres bon! Poetry in motion!"

"Is she mocking us?" Deburn asks Oswald//"Nah, she's just very enthustastic and a pooka. Hyperbole maybe her lingo. I don't know. You should try reading SHalimar sometime. HE just gives you that sad look like you clearly missed the punchline"

"Monsieur, Oswald is my oldest friend. Why would I mock him? Especially when he's helping me. Or the roses. Mostly the roses. Fiona hold, roses are essential..."

"You going to make any roses of different colors? I mean ,grow?" Oswald asks

"I suppose I could paint them..." a thoughtful tap on her chin.

"Ah, well, I meant.. err nevermind"

"What is your favorite color, mon ami?"

"Uhm, well.. I like blue, but hear a blue rose causes memory loss.. oh, I also like silver," oswald admits "So I'm glad the hold went to another silver house." Oswald admits

"I think the blue rose of forgetfulness is more an eshu thing, she's not going to find seeds to that" Deburn says "And certainly not make it"

Her eyes sparkle. "Blue roses! Like little glass unicorns! They would be a flower of memories - shattered or otherwise..."

"Also, SHE is standing right here, cher."

"uhm, sorry" Deburn says//"He's new," Oswald says as if that explains it

"Oh! Welcome!"

"Yeah, I'm Deburn" The new guy says "Glass unicorns? "

"Oh, oui - in the matter of memories, glass unicorns and blue roses both figure most prominently."

The trolls exchange confused looks, then Oswald says "Well, the baroness would probably think either is lovely"

"I met a glass unicorn once. She thanked me for the kindness."

"At least you know her intentions were transparent" Oswald manages. THen says "I'm sorry, that slipped "

She laughs. "You have my permission to pun."

"We're trolls, ma'am" Oswald explains//Deburn nods

"Puns will make the flowers grow. Puns and reign. Good thing it's a noble garden!"

there's a tittering from a tree nearby

Her tattered ears perk and she looks for the source.

Did the tree itself laugh? But it's a weeping willow?

The oak she was on seems more mute, but still splendid